Dear parents, caregivers, staff and students.

We have been busily preparing for Covid Alert Level 3 and this newsletter contains a lot of information – some of which will be relevant to your circumstances and other bits will not. I ask for your patience and perseverance as you read this! I have tried to order the information as effectively as I can.

General Information:

1. Monday April 27 is a public holiday and remote learning will not be happening.

It is Anzac Day on Saturday, April 25 and I respectfully ask that you take some time in your bubble to stand and commemorate those who have served their country. If you are able please join the #StandAtDawn movement on April 25. Our chaplain, Dr Macleod, has also published in this newsletter other ways it is possible to commemorate this day. In these unprecedented times, it is important to remember the Anzac spirit of endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour and friendship. Qualities that we need now more than ever.

2. Tuesday April 28 is a designated Teacher Only Day. Remote learning will not be happening.

3. On Teacher Only Day, Tuesday April 28, we will 'open' the school between 10am and 12pm so that students can access any materials they may have left at school and feel are vital to learning at home. For security and health and safety reasons, it is imperative that students/parents wanting to do this report to the school office and follow the strict protocols that are in place. Students/parents will be escorted individually (at an appropriate distance) to their locker or classroom to collect the gear. Please remember those Anzac qualities should a lot of people turn up at the same time (we have protocols for this as well).

4. The school library:

The library will remain closed during Level 3 but is offering a 'Click and Collect' service every Tuesday starting April 28 for all students and staff. Please refer to Ms Wootton's article in this newsletter for more details.

Junior School Years 0-6

5. Staff have developed further hard packs for Junior students in Years 0-6. These can be collected between 7.30am – 8.30am and 2pm - 3pm on Tuesday April 28. Please come to the school office and follow the strict procedures and protocols in place. (You will receive your pack from the new meeting room (Mrs Pollard’s old classroom) and then exit out the other door).

6. We have applied under the government initiative for devices for our junior students. As a decile 10 composite school we will be well down the list and may not receive anything at all. However, should a device arrive at your residential address please accept it. It will be your child’s device for the time of remote learning and then becomes the property of the school. No cost is involved.

7. Please note that we will not be sending out the junior school reports you may have expected at the end of Term 2. If possible, parent-teacher interviews will proceed in Term 3.

Middle and Senior School Years 7-13

8. There will be no mid -year examinations as learning programmes have had to be altered to accommodate remote learning.

9. Students who require art supplies can access these on Tuesday April 28 between 10am - 12pm from their specific teacher’s art room. Mr Shaw in the Art house, Ms Andrews under Braemar (access from outside) and Ms Dixon in Hall Block (access from library end) and follow the strict procedures and protocols in place.

10. We have rebooked the school formals for senior students for later in the year. They will only be able to proceed if we can comply with national alert level guidelines.

Students returning to School under Alert Level 3 conditions

11. On Tuesday April 28 you will receive email communication about your bubble. It will tell you the name of your bubble, what time that bubble will be starting/finishing school, the learning space you will be in and the name of the staff responsible for your bubble.

12. All bubbles will be located on the Junior School site as most students are junior school students and hygiene and sanitation requirements are more easily managed.

13. As communicated yesterday, please remember that school will look and feel very different under Alert Level 3.

14. When you come to school you may wear tidy mufti – uniform is not required but neither are pyjamas.

15. If you are using a device as part of your remote learning please bring headphones.

16. All students need to bring their pens, coloured pencils, gluesticks, rubbers, felts etc to their bubble in a clear snap lock plastic bag.

17. Junior School students (Years 1-6) are also encouraged to bring a device (preferably with headphones) if they are able. Some devices are available at school.

18. Bags will be taken into the bubble and remain at the student’s designated space.

Please enjoy the long weekend, remember to spare a thought for servicemen and women on Anzac Day and above all stay safe.

Nga manawa nui

Pauline Duthie